Description

[Reconstruction]. 1876 South Carolina Election Day Archive
comprised of fifty-one letters, telegrams, and reports spanning
November 7 through November 23, 1876. Reconstruction of the
rebellious Southern states, in the wake of the Civil War, was
marked by military occupation, corrupt and oppressive Radical
Republican leadership, violence, and intimidation. White
southerners were frustrated with the passage of the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, guaranteeing rights to a
sizable (nearly 4 million) population of Freedmen in addition to
restrictions placed on former Confederate soldiers (numbering some
150,000) barring them from voting or holding public office
(Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3). With the passage of the Amnesty
Act of 1872, however, the restrictions of Section 3 were lifted to
all but 500-750 former Confederate officers and the political
climate in the South began to intensify in the years leading up to
the election of 1876. Tired of Republican rule, Southern Democrats
were free again to vote and run for office.

The months leading up to the election of 1876 were rife with
tension. Violence was ever present and groups of armed men, calling
themselves "rifle clubs," roamed the countryside. Supporters of the
Democratic Party, they would often break up Republican meetings and
intimidate Republican voters, both white and black. Black
Republicans would often do the same toward black Democrats,
Freedmen disillusioned with the corruption and broken promises of
the Republican Party. Brevet Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger,
commander of the U. S. Army Department of the South, was tasked
with assisting Governor Daniel Chamberlain and the United States
Marshals in keeping the peace.

The majority of the collection consists of report from various
regiment commanders stationed around the state, but of special
interest is a letter to General Ruger from former Confederate
Colonel Alexander C. Haskell who, in 1876, had been elected
chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee. He is writing
on election day in protest of the proceedings and gives an
excellent Southern perspective: Alexander C. Haskell ALS.
Three pages, 8" x 10", Columbia [South Carolina], November 7, 1876,
in part: "...the election is destroyed by intimidation and
violence. Numbers of men (coloured) who went up to the Polls to
vote the democratic Ticket were driven off by fear. And one who had
courage enough to cast his vote was thrown down by the women who
tore his clothes from his back." He continues by denouncing the
government and the military for their seeming disinterest in the
safety of the Democratic voters: "We could protect our rights
even against the will of a false and treacherous Governor, but we
have folded our arms in obedience to the Government and the
military authorities of the United States. We have asked of the
military authority its presence to protect us. This protection has
not been granted us. The election is being conducted to the
irreparable injury of the State and the sense of safety has been
snatched from every coloured man who wishes to vote with the white
people...I have the honour to submit this to your consideration and
file it as a protest against the election as conducted under
military supervision." At the end, he adds a postscript:
"Colored men who went to the polls to vote the Democratic Ticket
were seized, pulled back, overawed and made to vote the Republican
ticket. Mr. Greener - colored - who is if I mistake not, U. S.
Supervisor is one of the principal canvassers, and is putting the
colored men in line to vote Rep. Ticket, thus violating the duties
of his office and making the election a fraud. It is too late now
to interfere except to conserve the peace as nearly all our voters
have been forced and persuaded by improper means to vote on the
other side."

The tension did not end on election day, but continued for several
days after as this report indicates: H. C. Cook Fair Copy of a
Report, seven integral pages, November 10, 1876, of action
during in Greenville, South Carolina. All was well until the arrest
of Carson White, a Republican of whom Cook, captain of the U. S.
2nd Infantry Regiment, states: "...[they] arrested Carson White
whom I cannot find comitted [sic] any offence."
Following the arrest and his subsequent release, the tension rises
until "...pistols - Clubs - Knifes [sic] &c
were drawn and ...Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal Mr. Scruggs demanded
that order be restored." Order is restored before the U. S.
troops Cook has sent for arrive.

Under the watchful eyes of U. S. troops, who had been placed at
various polls throughout the state, Election Day came and went with
little event, as this archive will illustrate. With the election of
Rutherford B. Hayes as president, Reconstruction came to an end.
Shortly after assuming office, Hayes pulled all remaining U. S.
troops out of the state capitals of South Carolina and Louisiana,
the last two reconstruction states, and returned home rule to both.
With the ending of military occupation, Wade Hampton was declared
governor and Daniel Chamberlain fled north to New York City. This
archive is a treasure trove of information from a little known
episode toward the end of Reconstruction in the South.

More Information:

Additional items include:

James R. ReillyFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Sumter, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

George L. TurnerFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Carmel Hill, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876. He reports that the election passed peaceably enough, but a warrant was served upon a Deputy U. S. Marshal for trying to ".rescue a prisoner from the hands of a state constable."

Cass DurhamFair Copy of a Report, November 11, 1876, concerning the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

James B. Fry Fair Copy of a Telegram, November 11, 1876, to Thomas H. Ruger informing him that his ".orders for movements of troops.agrees with the Commanding General's." With a Thomas H. Ruger ANS on the verso.

M. CrawfordFair Copy of a Report, November 12, 1876, concerning the happenings in Lancaster and Waxhaw, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

William V. WolfeFair Copy of a Report, November 14, 1876, concerning the happenings in Easley Station, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

William L. HaskinFair Copy of a Report, November 10, 1876, concerning the happenings in Liberty Hill, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

G. N. BomfordFair Copy of a Report, November 10, 1876, concerning the happenings in Cainhoy, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

W. A. MillerFair Copy of a Report, November 10, 1876, concerning the happenings in Clinton, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

James StewartFair Copy of a Report, November 10, 1876, concerning the happenings in Laurensville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

L. L. LivingstonFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Camden and Red Hill, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Samuel S. ElderFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Bennettsville, Red Bluff, and Brownsville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Charles HarkinsFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Silverton, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876. He reports that on the train from Augusta, Georgia to Silverton, ".there were about Fifty young men from Augusta going.'to help to redeem the State' they were regularly organized and seemed to be under the command of a man named Dunn, the majority of them were armed with revolvers." He states that there was no incident and his men were not needed during the election, but served as guards for the transportation of the ballot box for Aiken.

H. G. SitchfieldFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Winnsboro and Ridgeway, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

James BohanFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Fort Mill, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

A. G. VerplankFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Midway, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Loomis L. LangdonFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings at Barnwell Court House, Barnwell County, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

J. B. EatonFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Buford's Bridge, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

William B. Wheeler Fair Copy of an Report, November 8, 1876, to G. N. Bomford regarding the movement of troops and happenings at "Muster House," South Carolina on Election Day, 1876.

James Stewart Fair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Laurensville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Frank O. Briggs Fair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Seneca City, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Charles Narey Fair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Rich Hill, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

H. H. BennerFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Columbia, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Clarence DeemsFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Darlington, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876. He states that a number of arms were placed in the County Jail.

R. LodorFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Timmonsville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

A. M. RandolFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

William S. PattenFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Newberry, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

John BrannanFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

G. N. BomfordFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Cainhoy, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

C. R. PaulFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Abbeville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

D. H. FloydFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Leesville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Charles KellerFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Richardsonville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

James MillerFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Ridge Spring, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Robert F. BatesFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, transmitting the reports of Lieutenants Todd and Patten regarding Election Day, 1876.

J. H. ToddFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, concerning the happenings in Prosperity, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

R. LodorFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, concerning the happenings in Timmonsville, South Carolina during Election Day, 1876.

Copy of an Endorsement, November 20, 1876, by H. C. Danes ".calling for report of action taken on election day November 7, 1876."

C. H Cabaniss Jr. Fair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, regarding the movement and actions of a detachment of 12 men from Co. "D" 18th Infantry to Rock Hill, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

Jacob KlineFair Copy of a Report, November 7, 1876, regarding the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina during the 1876 election.

Charles B. HintonFair Copy of a Report, November 7, 1876, regarding the happenings in Chester, South Carolina during the 1876 election.

George S. Hoyt Fair Copy of a Report, November8, 1876, regarding the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

E. R. Kellogg Fair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, regarding the happenings in Edgefield, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

Robert F. BatesFair Copy of a Report, November 8, 1876, regarding the happenings in Newberry, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

Frank H. BarnhartFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, to Captain Thomas J. Lloyd regarding the happenings at "Calhoun's Mills," South Carolina for the 1876 election. He relates the tale of an assault on the Deputy U. S. Marshal by ".a party of Georgians.and I have no doubt but for my presence at the time the Marshal would have lost his life."

Thomas J. LloydFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, regarding the happenings in Abbeville County, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

C. S. BestFair Copy of a Report, November 9, 1876, regarding the happenings in Blackville, South Carolina for the 1876 election.

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